By Lerato Mutlanyane
Hailing from Bloemfontein, the City of Roses, Palesa “Lisa S” Sentso is stepping into her own spotlight — and bringing a sound that refuses to be boxed in. First known as part of the duo Harmonic Squared, which made waves on the Bloem music scene in 2018, Lisa S has since evol...
Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, Thamsanqa Jiyane, and Anoj Singh appeared at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Monday, facing charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
While four former Transnet executives facing corruption charges are claiming innocence, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) insisted there is substantial evidence linking them to the crimes.
Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, Thamsanqa Jiyane, and Anoj Singh appeared at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Monday, facing charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
The group is alleged to be involved in a R93 million locomotives deal awarded to a company linked with the Gupta family.
While the accused maintain they are innocent, Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the evidence tells a different story.
“In our holistic approach as IDAC, we investigate everything that was provided in the state capture commission. That is why we have staggered our approach in terms of formulating charges against the accused persons.”
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
South Africa is poised for a dramatic transition from the calm skies of winter to an influx of rain and gusty winds as a cold front approaches, bringing with it implications for travel and outdoor plans across several regions.
At the start of the week, the South African Weather Service reported mostly settled weather conditions with no severe weather alerts in effect. The fine, partly cloudy skies across much of the interior are a welcome sight for those hoping to enjoy the last weeks of winter. However, this tranquility is set to change as the week unfolds.
By Tuesday, a cold front entering from the Atlantic is forecast to makeover the Western Cape, leading to an increase in cloud cover and a surge in rainfall possibilities. Specifically, the chances of rain rise to 30% in the Northern Cape areas of Prieska and De Aar, and even higher at 40% along the far southwest coast, which includes Sutherland and its neighbouring regions.
Accompanying this front will be cooler temperatures, with stronger winds expected to reach up to 40 km/h along both coastal and inland exposed areas. The advance of these weather systems signifies a noticeable shift in conditions.
As Wednesday arrives, the cold front will continue to strengthen, ushering in scattered showers across the Western and Southern Cape. Areas such as Worcester and parts of the Overberg can anticipate a 60% chance of rain, while the central Karoo and southern interior towns, including Graaff-Reinet and Beaufort West, may see an isolated sprinkle with a 30% likelihood of showers.
For the remainder of the country, namely Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo, predominantly fine and cold weather will prevail with only a 10% chance of light rain or drizzle in the northeast. Early commuters should remain cautious, as morning fog patches are expected in low-lying areas.
On the Indian Ocean coastline, which includes the bustling cities of Durban and Richards Bay, cool and windy conditions will dominate starting Tuesday. Isolated showers are likely throughout midweek, alongside winds reaching up to 40 km/h, creating choppy seas that could pose challenges for small vessels and beachgoers alike.
Despite the brewing cold front, the South African Weather Service has not issued any severe impact-based warnings for the initial part of the week. However, residents, especially those in the Western Cape and along the southern coast, are urged to prepare for potentially wet and windy conditions starting midweek, as these systems may disrupt travel plans and outdoor activities.
A former Standard Bank employee lost her appeal at the Labour Court in Johannesburg following her dismissal for alleged misconduct tied to cash misappropriation.
Nomfundo Khumalo worked as a teller for Standard Bank from November 2017.
Khumalo had just returned from a two-week leave on December 20, 2021, when she was subjected to a monthly surprise check on her cash till the following day. The surprise check revealed discrepancies that would ultimately lead to her dismissal.
During the inspection, it was discovered that on the day she returned to work, she attempted to balance her till four times and consistently reflected an amount of R11 in a form of R1 coins which was contrary to the R31 in R1 coins discovered during the surprise check.
In addition, her supervisor discovered R20 in R1 coins unaccounted for in her till tray. Further scrutiny of CCTV footage revealed a troubling scene: Khumalo, while attempting to resolve the discrepancies in her till, was captured placing a 50c coin into her pocket. This act was not only viewed as manipulative but also served as critical evidence against her during subsequent proceedings.
Following the discovery, Khumalo was suspended and faced disciplinary proceedings in March 2022, where she was charged with misconduct, failure to follow company procedure, and dishonesty stemming from the misappropriation of funds. Although she was acquitted of one charge, she was found guilty of misconduct and misappropriation of funds, leading to her dismissal.
Seeking to overturn the decision, Khumalo turned to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), where she defended her actions before Commissioner Thandiwe Tshayan.
Khumalo conceded that her till did show discrepancies but attributed her failures to a series of seizures she suffered the day prior.
"I thought I had balanced properly the previous day but to my surprise I had mistakenly omitted a tray of R1.00 which amounted to R20, and this happened because I had seizures about four times the previous day and I forced myself to come to work…”.
Despite her efforts, Khumalo’s argument was rebuffed when Commissioner Tshayan determined that the footage presented compelling evidence of her wrongdoing, leading to the support of her dismissal.
Undeterred, she sought relief at the Labour Court and argued that her dismissal was unreasonable considering that she never had no differences or surpluses for at least a year.
She argued that she had seizures and was hospitalised, and her doctor had recommended that she be removed from stressful duties or handling money.
On the morning of the incident, she claims she forced herself to attend to work even though her health was capricious.
She reiterated that there was no evidence that she took the 50c. Additionally, her dismissal occurred without any consideration of her overall health.
Acting judge Ndivhuho Tshisevhe, who presided over the review, emphasised that he cannot overlook the findings from the CCMA. The CCMA relied on evidence that Khumalo was captured on CCTV placing an item in her pocket, following which her till balanced.
"I do not see any reason to excoriate the findings of the second respondent (Thandiwe Tshayan), as her finding is pithily or succinctly addressed. The epiphany of the surplus money found in the till bag of the applicant (Khumalo) resonates well with the decision of the arbitrator," said Tshisevhe.
Tshisevhe added that from the evidence, he had no reason to interfere with the decision made at the CCMA
Police in Bloemfontein in the Free State have arrested six foreign nationals and seized counterfeit goods valued at more than R19 million during raids in the CBD.
The search and seizure warrants were executed in accordance with the Customs and Excise Act at targeted shops.
“The operation which lasted for two days led to the confiscation of more than 13 000 counterfeit items of high-end luxury brands that include clothing, shoes bags and jewelry. Six foreign nationals were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act. One of the suspects is also facing an additional charge for resisting arrest,” says police spokesperson Amanda Van Wyk .
Following days of threats, speculations, and concerns, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has resolved to stay put in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Instead, the DA, a GNU partner and SA’s second-largest party, announced its decision to withdraw – with immediate effect – from the National Dialogue scheduled to take place in August this year.
Addressing the media on Saturday afternoon after the party’s 48-hour ultimatum issued to President Cyril Ramaphosa lapsed, DA leader John Steenhuisen said leaving the GNU and collapsing the government would not be in the best interest of the country.
“We love our country, and we work against tremendous odds every day to act in the best interests of all South Africans. From the inception of the beginning of the GNU, the DA has always acted in the best interests of South Africa. It is time now that President Ramaphosa and the ANC do the same,” said Steenhuisen.
This was as a result of Ramaphosa dismissing former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield on Wednesday following his traveling abroad without receiving approval from the president.
Steenhuisen accused Ramaphosa of failing to act against corruption within his own ranks, and as such, his party has resolved to withdraw from the upcoming National Dialogue with immediate effect.
The National Dialogue will see civic society and South Africans come together to find solutions to the country’s problems, such as unemployment, gender-based violence, and other social ills.
Contrary to that, Steenhuisen said the people of South Africa should not be taken for fools.
The Department of Home Affairs is probing allegations that mothers are selling their children's original birth certificates to foreigners after several instances came to lights where 18-year olds tried to apply for ID documents and couldn't produce their original birth certificates.
The first cases came to light in Cape Town when the manager for Home Affairs in Mitchells Plain, Shereen Meyer, mentioned it in a community meeting attended by stakeholders and residents.
Meyer, confirmed to Weekend Argus that an internal investigation was underway after the matter came to the department’s attention when several learners applying for their identity documents (IDs) in matric were unable to produce birth certificates.
“Our citizenship is not to be sold,” said Meyer firmly during the meeting, warning of the seriousness of such offences.
The Department of Home Affairs since confirmed it is investigating the claims. Siyabulela Qoza, spokesperson for the department, said they were aware of three such cases and were probing whether more instances may have occurred. He also confirmed that, from what they have seen, the incidents do not appear to be stemming from the office- referencing that there is no involvement of employees.
“We found that the mothers are selling their kids birth certificates without the knowledge of Home Affairs, especially when they come for replacements - and they get questioned.
"We do not feel comfortable that this is happening and will launch a national investigation, based on what we are able to find we will determine what will need to happen.”
South Africans have been the victims of identity fraud since the dawn of democracy when illegal immigrants tried to obtain South African ID's, birth cerficates, marriage certificates and other documents in a bid to stay in the country legally. This sometimes happened with the help of corrupt Home Affairs officials. There were instances where women were duped into marriages or discovered that they were married when their ID's were stolen or cloned. This is not only a national problem, but an international problem as was reported before when the The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that identity fraud and theft had become the No 1 white collar crime in America.
Qoza also reassured that there are no instances where two people share one identity document.
The alleged selling of children's birth certificates has drawn fierce condemnation from public officials, including Mitchells Plain constituency head Ricardo Mackenzie, who labelled the claims “disgusting.”
“It is disgusting that mommies are doing this. What makes it even more sad, because now the children have to suffer,” he said. Mackenzie added that he would be writing to the Minister of Home Affairs to demand urgent intervention and explore steps to address the issue and prevent future occurrences.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has also responded to the revelations. While its Metro South District office has not received official reports regarding such cases, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond acknowledged that delays in the processing of IDs and other documentation remained a challenge for many families.
“The identity number of a learner is a compulsory field as per the National Examination System,” Hammond said. “Learners are encouraged to apply for their Identity Documents (IDs) in Grade 10. In the interim, the birth certificate number must be used.”She added that schools are urged to guide parents on how to apply for IDs through the DHA.
In instances where learners cannot obtain an ID in time for their final exams, schools can support by providing temporary photo identification and registering learners using their date of birth, along with a unique examination number.
The investigation is expected to cast a wider net in the coming weeks, as the DHA probes whether this alleged practice extends beyond the three confirmed cases.
